Method for manufacturing a wapper for use in the manufacturing of cigars

ABSTRACT

Method for manufacturing a wrapper for use in the manufacture of cigars in which a wrapper to be used for enclosing fillers is obtained in that a tobacco leaf ( 1 ) is cut into a number of parallel strips ( 5 ) substantially in longitudinal direction, so in the direction of the mid rib ( 2 ), whereupon the ends ( 9 ) of the strips obtained are connected to each other to one continuous wrapper ribbon ( 10 ). At both ends ( 9 ), the strips ( 5 ) are cut-off across an acute angle (α) to the longitudinal direction, said angle approximately coinciding with the angle enclosed by the side ribs ( 3 ) and the mid rib ( 2 ). The continuous wrapper ribbon ( 10 ) can be wound around the fillers fed as a strand in longitudinal direction, whereupon both longitudinal edges ( 12 ) will be connected to each other The continuous wrapper ribbon ( 10 ) is wound onto a roller ( 11 ), which is fed to the cigar winding machine.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing wrappers for manufacturing cigars, use being made of a tobacco leaf which is cut into a number of parallel strips substantially in longitudinal direction of said leaf, so in the direction of the midrib thereof, both ends of said strips being cut-off across similar, acute angles in respect to the longitudinal direction, which angle might coincide with the angle enclosed by the midrib and the sideribs of said leaf.

Such a method is known by DE 39 34 660 A1. In case of this known method the length of said strips is chosen such that each strip can be used as a wrapper for making one sigar.

The use of separately cut-out wrappers in a cigar winding machine is the reason of the limited production rate of such a machine.

Further obviously each strip will contain parts of the sideribs of said tobacco leaf. Caused by this the outer surface of the obtained cigar will not be very smooth.

In case of said known method a considerable portion of the tobacco leaf will get wasted, although the scrap can be processed into fillers.

It will be obvious that all this causes the price of cigars to be relatively high in relation to that of cigarettes. On the other hand, general speaking, the tax on cigarettes is much higher than the tax on cigars. However, according to valid European regulations, cigars must meet strict demands for being allowed to be regarded as a “cigar”.

Now the object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a wrapper which allows the production rate of a cigar winding machine to be increased considerably and which produces relatively much less waste, thereby causing a considerable reduction in the production cost of cigars.

According to the invention it is provided that the strips cut out-off a tobacco leaf, extend themselves substantially between two succeeding sideribs, the ends of several strips obtained in this way being connected to each other for forming an almost continuous wrapper ribbon.

The wrapper ribbon obtained in this way will be rather smooth because it will hardly contain portions of the ribs of the tobacco leaf. Further the ends of the formed strips will come to lie onto each other as flat as possible, which allows a proper connection between the strips.

As explained afterwards the thickness of the sideribs can be measured so that parts of this can be maintained in a strip when the thickness is below a given value.

By cutting-off the ends of said strips across acute angles said strips can be connected to each other over a larger area with an equal width of overlap.

Connecting the ends of the strips can occur in the known way by means of adhering. It is also possible to apply the strips onto a non-regenerable carrier being comprised of various materials, such as paper, for example. It is also possible to employ a regenerable carrier, such as a foil, a cloth or the like.

In particular, however, the ends of two strips can be laid on top of each other and can be fed between rollers, so that said ends will be compressed into and be connected to each other.

This might contribute in obtaining a continuous ribbon with an almost equal thickness over its length. This is particularly advantageous in processing the ribbon in a cigar winding machine, in which the ribbon obtained is directly wound around the filler.

It can be remarked that NL 6501893 describes a method for connecting tobacco leaves, either parts thereof, for forming a band out of which wrappers each for one single cigar can be cut. Only the midrib is removed out of said leaves.

Obviously it is desirable that said continuous ribbon, obtained according to the invention, is having a certain strength, so that the cigar winding machine can process it without any risk of pulling it apart.

In connection with this, it can be provided for, that on cutting a tobacco leaf into strips, said strips are scanned and that in case of detecting an irregularity in a strip, this will be cut transversely at both sides of said irregularity and the intermediate portion, containing said irregularity, will be removed, both ends of the remaining parts of said strip being handled in the same way as a normally obtained strip.

For example the irregularity can be a hole or a tear in the tobacco leaf or a considerably thickened portion, or the like. Means known per se can be employed for scanning a strip.

When scanning the tobacco leaf at the same time the thickness of the sideribs, present in this, can be measured, such that it can be fixed whether a part of a siderib might be present in a strip cut-off said leaf. By this the strip can have an optimal length.

Further said strips of wrapper can be reinforced with materials that can be processed in the final product, such as so-called “homogenised tobacco leaf” parts, fibres and paper-types which can be smoked.

In particular the strips of wrapper are combined with binder from homogenised tobacco foil.

Said obtained continuous ribbon of wrapper can be spirally fed onto the filler but in particular it is preferred that the ribbon is wound around the filler, fed as a continuous strand, in longitudinal direction, whereupon both longitudinal edges of said ribbon will be connected to each other.

Then the wrapper can possibly be stuck to the filler, depending on the composition of said filler.

In respect of this it can be pointed to GB 19132-A.D.1907 in which it is indicated that a wrapper can be used to inclose a filler to form a long rod which can be cut into desired lengths.

In this case, however, the wrapper is formed by cutting longitudinal strips from each side of a tobacco leaf, the longitudinal sides of said strips being connected to one another. So each connecting place comprises parts of the sideribs of the leaf and so is not smooth. Further the obtained strip is folded upon itself so that a wrapper composed of two layers will result in order that the perforations in one layer may be covered by the material of the next layer.

Obviously more tobacco leaf is necessary than in case of the present invention. Further the outer surface of a produced cigar will be less smooth than in case of the invention in view of the fact that two layers with sideribs in it are laid one upon the other.

The ribbon of tobacco leaf according to the invention, can be wound upon a reel, which can be supplied to a cigar winding machine. Processing of the tobacco leaves generally will not take place immediately at the cigar winding machine.

In view of this it is remarked that NL 7502839-A shows a device comprising a number of transporters for connecting rectangular pieces of tobacco leaves to one another and bringing the formed ribbon onto a reel.

The invention is further explained by way of an embodiment, shown in the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a view of a tobacco leaf before it is cut into strips;

FIG. 2 schematically shows a perspective view of a reel onto which a ribbon of wrapper, formed by a number of strips, is wound.

FIG. 1 shows a tobacco leaf 1, having a midrib 2 and sideribs 3, which approximately enclose an angle α with the midrib 2.

In the right hand part of the leaf, shown in FIG. 1, dash lines 4 indicate how the tobacco leaf 1 can be cut into a number of strips 5 extending in parallel.

The strips 5 are cut-off in transverse direction as indicated by dash lines 6. These lines 6 can extend across an angle α which is approximately parallel to the direction of the sideribs 3.

Obviously the midrib 2 will not form part of a strip 5 and the strips 5 lying directly beside said midrib, generally speaking, will extend itself only between two sideribs 3 such that no parts of said sideribs 3 will form part of a strip 5.

This depends, however, on the thickness of said sideribs 3, such that it is possible that de strips 5, lying at a distance from said midrib 2 might contain parts of one or more sideribs 3. In this way it is obtained that a strip 5 will have a limited thickness over its complete surface.

When a scanner, not indicated, detects that in a strip 5 an irregularity, such as a hole or a tear 7, is present, said strip will be cut-off at both sides of this and the portion 8, in which this irregularity 7 is present, will be removed. Cutting-off will again take place in the direction of the side ribs 3, such that the ends 9 of all strips 5 will extend in this direction.

FIG. 2 schematically shows that the ends 9 of the strips 5 are connected to each other for forming a continuous wrapper ribbon 10, which is wound upon a reel 11.

After this said reel 11 can be fed to a cigar winding machine in which the ribbon 10 can be pulled from said reel 11 and can be spirally wound onto the filler fed in the form of a continuous strand. In particular said ribbon 10 is folded around the filler in longitudinal direction, whereupon the longitudinal edges 12 of said ribbon 10 are stucked together.

As mentioned earlier, the ribbon 10 can be mounted together with the binder of the filler which allows for making a cigar in one single step. It will be obvious that then the obtained continuous strand is cut into pieces of the desired length for obtaining cigars.

As mentioned earlier as well, the wrapper ribbon 10, wound upon the reel 11, can be combined with other materials and can be used in that way.

It will be obvious that only one possible embodiment of a method according to the invention is shown in the drawing and is described above and that many modifications can be made without leaving the scope of the invention as this is indicated in the accompanying claims. 

1. A method for manufacturing wrappers for manufacturing cigars, use being made of a tobacco leaf (1) which is cut into a number of parallel strips (5) substantially in longitudinal direction of said leaf (1), so in the direction of the midrib (2) thereof; both ends of said strips being cut-off across similar, acute angles (α) in respect to the longitudinal direction, which angle might coincide with the angle enclosed by the midrib (2) and the sideribs (3) of said leaf (1), characterized in that the strips (5), cut out-off a tobacco leaf (1), extend themselves substantially between two succeeding sideribs (3), the ends of several strips (5) obtained in this way being connected to each other for forming an almost continuous wrapper ribbon (10).
 2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends (9) of two strips (5) are laid on top of each other and are fed between rollers, so that said ends (9) will be compressed into and be connected to each other.
 3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that on cutting a tobacco leaf (1) into strips (5), said strips are scanned and that in case of detecting an irregularity (7) in a strip, this will be cut transversely at both sides of said irregularity (7) and the intermediate portion (8), containing said irregularity will be removed, both ends (9) of the remaining parts of said strip (5) being handled in the same way as a normally obtained strip (5).
 4. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said strips (5) of wrapper are reinforced with materials that can be processed in the final product, such as so-called “homogenised tobacco leaf” parts, fibres and paper types which can be smoked.
 5. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the strips (5) of wrapper are combined with binder from homogenised tobacco foil.
 6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the obtained ribbon of wrapper (10) is wound around the filler, fed as a continuous strand, in longitudinal direction, whereupon both longitudinal edges (12) of said ribbon (10) are connected to each other.
 7. Reel provided with a ribbon of wrapper (10) wound on it, characterized in that said ribbon is achieve according to the method of claim
 1. 8. Cigar, characterized in that it is achieved by using the method according to claim 5, said formed continuous strand being cut into part with the desired length. 